Asset tracking using alternative sources of position fix data

• US 8,314,704 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Deal Magic Inc., Savi Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Cova, Nicholas D., Subramaniyam, Nalini
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/567,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20110050424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 700/215, 700/216, 700/217
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Techniques for tracking physical assets are described. In one aspect, input indicating that an asset has been loaded on a conveyance is received. When a tag attached to the asset is unable to transmit position fix data describing a location of the asset to a server, alternative position fix data (e.g., from the conveyance or another tag coupled to another asset on the conveyance) is used to indicate the position of the asset and tag. In another aspect, a relay component is used to receive the tag position fix data from the tag and forward it to the server.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving input indicating that a first asset has been loaded onto a conveyance;

determining that a first tag coupled to the first asset is unable to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the first asset with a signal strength that satisfies a threshold;

receiving alternative position fix data from an alternative source associated with the conveyance, the alternative position fix data describing a particular position at a given time; and

associating the alternative position fix data with the position of the first asset at the given time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative source is a device on the conveyance, and the alternative position fix data is conveyance position fix data for the conveyance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative source is a conveyance location service, and the alternative position fix data is conveyance position fix data for the conveyance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative source is a second tag coupled to a second asset on the conveyance, and the alternative position fix data is position fix data generated by the second tag.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for input indicating that the asset has been removed from the conveyance; and

repeating the receiving alternative position fix data and associating the alternative position fix data until input indicating that the asset has been removed from the conveyance is received.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an event notification from the tag, the event notification corresponding to a past event;

determining a position of the asset at the past time from the alternative position fix data associated with the tag; and

associating the position of the asset at the past time with the event notification as the location where the past event occurred.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining a position of the asset includes selecting alternative position fix data from the past time.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining a position of the asset includes interpolating between alternative position fix data from available times.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold is zero.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining that a tag coupled to the asset is unable to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the asset includes determining that the tag is unable to transmit tag position fix data after no position fix data is received from the tag for a period of time.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining that a tag coupled to the asset is unable to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the asset includes determining that the tag is unable to transmit tag position fix data from a stow plan associated with the conveyance.

12. A system, comprising:

one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving input indicating that a first asset has been loaded onto a conveyance;

determining that a first tag coupled to the first asset is unable to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the first asset with a signal strength satisfying a threshold;

receiving alternative position fix data from an alternative source associated with the conveyance, the alternative position fix data describing an alternative position at a given time; and

associating the alternative position fix data with the position of the first asset at the given time.

13. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving input indicating that an asset has been loaded onto a conveyance;

determining that a tag coupled to the asset is unable to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the asset;

receiving conveyance position fix data from a device on the conveyance, the conveyance position fix data describing a position of the conveyance at a given time; and

associating the conveyance position fix data with the first tag as the position of the first asset at the given time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the conveyance position fix data is encoded in a satellite communications message sent from a device on the conveyance.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the asset is a container and the conveyance is a ship.

16. A system, comprising:

one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving input indicating that an asset has been loaded onto a conveyance;

determining that a tag coupled to the asset is unable to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the asset;

receiving conveyance position fix data from a device on the conveyance, the conveyance position fix data describing a position of the conveyance at a given time; and

associating the conveyance position fix data with the first tag as the position of the first asset at the given time.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving input indicating that a plurality of assets have been loaded onto a same conveyance;

determining that a first tag coupled to a first asset in the plurality of assets is unable to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the asset;

identifying a second tag coupled to a second asset in the plurality of assets, the second tag able to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the second asset;

receiving tag position fix data from the second tag, the tag position fix data indicating a position of the second asset at a given time, and then associating the tag position fix data with the position of the first asset at the given time.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein identifying the second tag comprises:

receiving position fix data from one or more of the plurality of tags; and

selecting the second tag based on a strength of signal associated with each position fix data.

19. A system comprising:

one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving input indicating that a plurality of assets have been loaded onto a same conveyance;

determining that a first tag coupled to a first asset in the plurality of assets is unable to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the asset;

identifying a second tag coupled to a second asset in the plurality of assets, the second tag able to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the second asset;

receiving tag position fix data from the second tag, the tag position fix data indicating a position of the second asset at a given time, and then associating the tag position fix data with the position of the first asset at the given time.

20. A system, comprising:

a relay component operable to perform operations comprising;

receiving tag position fix data from a tag coupled to an asset being transported on a conveyance;

transmitting the tag position fix data and an identifier of the tag to a server system; and

a server system operable to perform operations comprising;

receiving tag position fix data and an identifier of the tag from the relay;

associating the tag position fix data with the asset; and

determining that a tag coupled to the asset is unable to transmit tag position fix data describing a position of the asset to the server system with a signal strength satisfying a threshold.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the relay is coupled to the conveyance.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the relay is transported on, but not coupled to, the conveyance.